It was another dark night for Whitstable Town as they were dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup at Deal Town on Tuesday evening.

Deal started the game on the front foot and attacked from kick off putting the Whitstable goal under pressure. Ex Whitstable striker Conner Coyne was the first to threaten as he headed wide from the near post. Within a minute Ryan Philpott had two chances as firstly he had a shot deflected wide and then shot straight at Town keeper Adam Highsted. On a quarter of an hour Luke Doherty was on hand to block another attempt but the constant pressure was eventually rewarded when Charlie Dickens got in at the near post to fire home and put the hosts into a deserved lead. Alfie Nunn had the first opportunity for Whitstable after 19

Jamie Taylor hits a long range effort wide

minutes has he headed wide. Highsted had to be at his best to save from a Dean Hill header. As the half progressed Town did start to threaten and on 29 minutes Scott Heard hit a dipping shot that was tipped over by Chris Whymark. On 37 minutes a mix up in the Town defence nearly led to another Deal chance but Philpott couldn’t get his shot away. Jamie Taylor had one more chance for the visitors but his shot went just wide.

The second half started a little more positively for Whitstable as they looked for the equaliser. However Deal did have a header that went wide three minutes into the half. Kieron Campbell started to look dangerous for Whitstable as he sent in a corner that was headed over by Curtis Robinson and within a minute Sam Bewick turned and shot over the bar. Whitstable were still in danger on the break as Charlie Walsh hit a shot off target and then Grant Bagley had a header tipped over the bar by Highsted. Campbell was unlucky not to bring the scores level on 67 minutes when he sent a shot in through a crowd of players but the ball cannoned into the bottom of the post and away. Bewick fed a cross into Michael Hurcombe but his header went straight into Whymark’s arms. However Deal were to seal their passage into the next round when Philpott slammed home after 69 minutes. Whitstable

Michael Hurcombe header goes into the side netting

did press to get back into the game as Hurcombe sent a header into the side netting and then Campbell shot over. It was not enough to get back in the game and Deal saw out the game until full time.

It was a costly and depressing evening for the club and those who had followed the Town down to Deal.